Teamwork is Collaboration (The Importance of Teamwork in Project Management)

You can tell a lot about a project manager by how effectively they manage their team.

Some consultants and project managers try and run a one-man (or woman) show, barking out orders and then moving on. Others try to micromanage every situation, often distracting the other team members from their work.

At LTI Management, we’ve found the best way to eliminate these inefficiencies is to set clear expectations agreed upon by both parties. After all, it’s the duty of a project manager to find a way for a team to work as a cohesive whole. Effective teamwork in large-scale projects is what determines whether or not quality standards and deadlines are met.

It’s up to the project manager to assemble and lead the team affectively, acting as if they’re a full-time member of the company even though they’re not. But in order to properly lead a situation, a manager has to know when to trust the team to do their individual jobs.

At LTI, we place a special emphasis on effective team strategizing, knowing when to bring everyone together,and when to let them focus on their work. Here are a few reasons why teamwork is so important in project management.

Sharing Ideas

LTI always encourages the sharing of ideas, and here is why:

When you’re working really close to something, you might not be able to see the bigger picture. The ideas you have might not line up with the project as a greater whole. When a team is working together, they can share ideas and run them past other departments.

Many minds are greater one.

Someone might have an idea that you never would have thought of. This also requires each team member to work an effective listening also.

Accountability

People are so busy in today’s project world that it’s helpful to have a master of all tasks. This keeps accountability.

Working as a team challenges the individual. Ot serves as a constant reminder that other people’s work depends on your own. If you fall behind or don’t do something right, it could effect others directly.

It’s like going for a run. If you’re out by yourself, you tend to go at your own pace. If you’re racing beside someone, you push yourself harder to keep up.

Encouragement and Support

Telling yourself that you’re doing a good job is never the same as someone else giving you encouragement. People naturally seek the approval of those around them. When you’re working as a team, you can encourage each other and motivate the entire team to keep working.

If someone is confused, behind, or feeling trapped, you can give them the support they need.

We encourage our team members to not only come to the table with a problem but also with a solution.

Delegating

LTI knows how and when to call in an expert.

Some project managers try and do everything themselves. This is as recipe for disaster. First of all, that’s too much work for one person. Second, there is no way that they are the best person for every job.

When you have a collective team, you can delegate work based on strengths and expertise. Each person is a cog in the great machine. By working together, you can accomplish more and do a better job at it.

If You Don’t Work Together, You’ll Fail Alone

Real estate expansions and program updates don’t succeed without a team of people behind them. A project manager doesn’t manage the project as much as they manage the people behind the project.

That’s something we seen proven time and again in our 13+ years of experience.

It takes a great team to do great things. If we don’t work together as a team, we risk becoming a force against ourselves.

LTI’s Thoughts on What Team Work Means

It starts with committing to do the very best for our clients. An effective team is built on trust, and our clients need to trust that the experts we put in place can do a great job. Great teamwork also requires effective communication.

When you communicate well, you can better understand where your team members are, what they’re capable of, and how to best utilize them.

Finally, a team has to be flexible and applicable. No matter how efficiently you plan, unforeseen circumstances will always arise. How well you handle them is a direct reflection of how effective your team is.

What do you think is the most important aspect of teamwork? Have you been in situations where the project manager failed to unite the team? What happened?